Bhopal: Children Went To Meet Their Relatives In Jail On Rakhi, Stamped On Face

Two children – a toddler and a teenager – who had gone to the Bhopal Central Jail to visit their relatives during Raksha Bandhan were stamped on their faces by the authorities. The incident has infuriated human rights activists, with the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) seeking a report from the Director General of prisons.

The stamp read ‘Kendriya Karagar Bhopal, Raksha Bandhan Parv’ and has the date of the day of the visit. MPHRC has taken suo moto cognizance of the incident and order immediate compensation of Rs 10,000 each to the two kids. It termed the act as ‘inhuman’.

As reported by The Indian Express, officials said that the children’s faces were stamped to apparently distinguish them from kids of women inmates, ensure that they do not enter again and also make sure that inmates do not leave the premises posing as visitors.

A jail officer said that there were 85,000 visitors on the day of Rakhi (Monday). The stamp is usually put on the hands of the visitors and an inquiry is being conducted on the reason for stamping the two children’s faces.

The Times of India reported that senior officials tried to defend the jail staff. “The stamping on only two children could be due to a mistake,” said a senior prisons official, refusing to explain how two kids would have the stamp at the exact spot “by mistake”.

Jail Minister Kusum Mehdele said, “Action will be taken against the guard responsible only if it is found that the identity mark was put deliberately…. They are not criminals, and branding by mistake does not make them so.”

Jail Minister Mehdele added that she has ordered an inquiry and asked DGP-prisons Sanjay Chaudhary to submit the report in three days. Strong actions will be taken against those responsible for it, she said.

MPHRC has asked for a report from DGP Chaudhary in a week. “This is against human values. Putting seals on the face of children is like a mental harassment for them. It is a violation of their human rights. The commission has asked to immediately stop the practice of stamping seals on people coming to meet relatives in jail,” said an MPHRC statement, reported The Times of India.

The Logical Indiancommunity staunchly condemns the act of marking the two children’s faces with jail stamps. Marked as family members of prisoners might pose the threat of social discrimination and done on a festive day makes one wonder the problems they might have faced while moving around in public.

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This Mother’s Day, Let Us Make A Real Difference In Our Mother’s Life

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mothers play a crucial role in our lives. Since we were little, they held our hands, acting as our guide into the world. They took care of all our needs – from teaching us how to hold a spoon, cooking delicious meals for us, dropping us to school and sitting with us while we struggled with our math homework – mothers have been there through thick and thin.

On the special occasion of Mother’s Day, Friends Adult Diapers has a beautiful message for each of us – treat your mother the way she has treated you all her life.

It was our mothers who stayed up all night taking care of us when we fell sick; it was her who help us with our homework. This Mother’s Day, remember to take care and support your mother the way she took care of you all these years.

The minds and bodies of our ageing parents dwindle as they grow even older, and somewhere in the incoherence of understanding their thoughts, children lose patience. They spend less and less time with their parents and hire others to look after them. A study by HelpAge India gives accounts of the elderly, most of whom testify to verbal abuse, neglect and disrespect by their children. Old people rely on their children for both emotional and financial support but, often times are not given the needed care.

There is little difference in how we were as toddlers and how parents are as senior citizens. They couldn’t understand the gibber we uttered then, yet taught us different languages. We were financially dependent on them till at least 18 years of age yet, they never said no to giving us pocket money. Why cannot we echo the same patience our parents showed for so many years?

Our parents have an unconditional love for us. They made sure all our needs are cared for and we never feel alone. When we grow up and our parents enter old age, they require the same care and affection. They would be delighted if we spent time with them after classes or work, make tea or cook for them and also help them with household chores when they have too many things at hand.

It is our responsibility to stand with our parents when they are weak; it is our responsibility to cook for them when they are too tired, and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they fall sick.

Mother’s Day is a celebration in honour of motherhood, a tribute to maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. Let us make a real difference by showing how much we truly care for our mothers.

Friends Adult Diapers has taken a wonderful initiative in this regard. The most precious gift for a mother is her child. So why not take this as an opportunity to shower her with the same love? After all, she deserves it for being with you through every obstacle and every hardship that you faced.